FA/18 Hornet

A twin-engine strike aircraft, the FA/18 is a multirole plane that can be used as a fighter or on attack missions.

A very manouevreable aircraft, the FA/18 can protect ships, bases or ground assets from aerial attack, or else launch bombs and missiles at enemy targets.

Australia is sending four FA/18s as air cover for Coalition units.

Details:

• Engine: Two GE F404-GE-400 low-bypass turbofan engines
  
• Length: 18 metres.
  
• Wing Span: 12 metres.
• Weight: 16,680 kg (fighter), 22,370 kg (ground attack).
• Height: 5 metres.
  
• Ceiling: 16,000 metres
  
• Range: 400-575 nautical miles
  
• Speed: 2170 km/h.
  
  

Command Ship

The likely amphibious command ship will be the HMAS Kanimbla, the sister ship of the HMAS Manoora, which has been in service dealing with illegal immigrants.

The Kanimbla can carry four Blackhawk helicopters - allowing for SAS operations to be launched from her - and on this mission she will have a full military hospital on board.

Details:

• Engines: Six ARCO 16-251 diesel engines.
  
• Displacement: 8450 tonnes.
  
• Length: 159.2 metres.
  
• Beam: 21.2 metres.
• Weapons: One 20mm Vulcan Phalanx close-in weapons system. 50 cal Browning machine guns. SRBOC self- defence system.
  
• Speed: 20 knots.
  
  
  

RAN Frigates

The role of frigates will mainly be escorting the command ship and other Allied convoy vessels.

Fast and well armed, the frigates carry anti-air missile systems that can protect larger ships against air attacks.

They also have helicopters that can be used to transport troops or take on anti-shipping roles.

Details:

• Engines: One General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engine. Two MTU 12V 1163 diesels driving two controllable pitch propellers.
  
• Displacement: 3600 tonnes.
  
• Length: 14.8 metres.
  
• Beam: 21.2 metres.
• Weapons: One 5 inch Mk 45 Mod 2 automatic rapid fire gun, Sea Sparrow anti-air missile system, Vulcan Phalanx close-in weapons system, Two Mk 32 triple-mounted anti-submarine torpedo tubes, Two 0.50 inch machine guns.
  
• Speed: 27 knots.
  
  
  

Special Air Service

The elite strike troops of the Australian Defence Force first saw action in Malaysia in 1965.

They fought in the Vietnam War and from 1978, after the Hilton Bombing during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sydney, they began anti-terrorism duties.

In the 1980s the SAS Regiment was readied for use in evacuating Australians from Fiji during the military coups there.

The SAS has lost 41 men in training accidents, the worst being the 1996 Blackhawk Disaster where 18 men died during a night helicopter exercise.

In recent campaigns the SAS has been restricted to search and rescue operations, but this time around the gloves have come off and they will take their share of full combat seek-and-destroy raids.

707 Refueling Tankers

Two 707 refuelers will be part of the Australian task force sent against terrorism.

The long-range tankers allow fighter aircraft to refuel in-flight, thereby extending their range.

They are likely to be based at US-run airfields near Afghanistan and will be used in air-to-air refueling missions for Allied strike aircraft.

P-3 Orions

The long-range maritime patrol aircraft are jammed with surveillance equipment and will be the eyes and ears of the task force.

They began service with the RAAF in the late 1960s and can be armed with air to surface missiles, torpedoes or mines.

Details:

• Engine: Four Allison T-56-A-14 turboprops driving four bladed Hamilton Standard constant speed propellers.
  
• Length: 35.6 metres.
  
• Wing Span: 30.37 metres.
• Take-off Weight: 61,500 kg.
  
• Range: 2200 nautical miles (mission radius).
  
• Speed: 608 km/h (cruising), 761 km/h (maximum).
• Armament: AGM-84 Harpoon Missile, 500 & 2000 lb aerial mines and Mk 46 torpedoes. Expendable search stores, including active and passive sonobuoys and smoke markers, are carried both internally and externally.
  
  

Photo: P J Smith - RAAF Base Williamtown Page